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Final hearing set Thursday on Sand Creek Byway

No one disputes that Sandpoint and the surrounding area constitute some of Idaho’s most striking scenery. Residents do, however, have different opinions about how to balance the area’s “livability” with environmental concerns. These concerns kept discussion about re-routing traffic on U.S. 95 around Sandpoint on the drawing board for more than 50 years.

The Sand Creek Byway project is now in the final design phase. A public hearing scheduled for Thursday (June 3) in Sandpoint will give the public one more opportunity to review the project enhancements and comment on the Environmental Assessment document. ITD hearing officers Nancy Becker and Lois Wood will record public input.

“We’ve worked hard to be inclusive,” says Barbara Babic, District 1 Public Affairs Specialist. “We established the first-ever project office to provide easy access to information at a central location. And we’ve worked with several citizen’s committees and task forces to keep the project on track.”

In 1999, an award-winning public involvement process conceived by ITD, Washington Infrastructure Services and the Sandpoint community ensured that everyone had an opportunity to participate.

“Although everyone may not be in full agreement, everyone has been heard and the process has been worth the effort,” said District 1 Engineer Scott Stokes.
For information on the project, visit http://sandcreekbyway.com/ .

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